Ignition system for internal-combustion engines.



U. B. ASKEW. IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1907.

94:1, 124, Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

sTATEs PATENT orirron.

IGNITION SYSTEM: FOR, INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. AsKEw, a

citizen of the United States, residing at (l-hi- .cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems for In [email-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ignition systems for internal combustion engines, and has for its general object to provide an ignition system which will automatically accommodate itself to variations in speed of the engine throughout a range much greater than that in which the usual ignition system is effective. 1

i. i have found that in the operation of the usual ignition system the time ,monient'undcr some conditions becomes the [dominant and limiting factor: that is to say, recognizing the fact that. as the R. P. M. increases the. duration of the spark producing condition in the ignition system decreases proportionately, it is clear that at some speed a critical point is reached atwhich the duration of the spark producing condition .is insutticient to permit of tho-electrical action necessary to produce the spark effectively,

" under the normal COIICllilOllJOf current value in the ignition supply circuit. Such speed, therefore, becomes a maximum or limitatimi speed of the engine under such condition in the ignition circuit.

it is a customary and advantageous practice in the provision of ignition systems to provide the current carrying do, 'ices or translating devices of the system. of suit-- able structure and proportion to suit the current valuepredetermined for normal operat ion of the ignitionsystein, and such provision I retain. have found, however, that under the high speed conditions at which the engine is approaching the limit of efficiency of its ignition deviccs,the ignition current may be greatly incre'i sod without detriment to the instrunnu'italities of the ignition system, even to a degree which it' materially advanced. Thus in the embodiment of my invention 1 provide in conjunc tion with an internal combustion engine provided with sparking devices, suitable ignition circuits and devices proportioned to a predetermined current supply, and means for automatically augmenting or decreasingthe current supply as the speed of the engine varies. Furthermore I prefer that the regulating devices shall be arranged to augment the current. supply only at 'critical times which may be accurately predetermined, and that the variations shall be effected in a manner which will not interfere with the op erat1on or the ignlter.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in a conventional. form, involving one ordinary type of ignition appliances, but it will be understood that such showing is illustrative merely, and that the teachings of my invention may readily be embodied, by those skilled in the art. to suit other types of ignition devices and to provide. other means of current value regulation.

Figure 1 is a'diagramniatic view of aneugine and ignition system, showing an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail of the switching parts.

Throughout the drawing like numerals of reference refer always to like parts.

In the embodiment shown, 5 indicates in general an internal combustion engine pro vided with suitable sparking elements herein illustrated as a jump spark plug. Vith the engine at some suitable point is associated a speed responsive governor, herein indicated in general at 7, as a ball type governor mounted upon a main shaft in the engine.- The governor spring may preferably be adjusted and to this end the customary adjusting means for this type of govcrnor is shown at S. The type of ignition system generally shown comprises an induction coil 10, the secondary 11 of such induction coil being connected in circuit 12 with the sparking terminal 6, and the primary 13 of such coil being connected with the timing mechanism conventionally shown at 1i and with the source of current. supply. The source of current supply may be varied in any suitable manner in response to change of speed of the engine, and in the embodiment shown I provide to this end a plurality of batteries 15, 15 and 15", connected in series and adapted to be cut into or out of the primary circuit in response to move ments of the governor 7. To this end I pro- -'*vide in conjunction with the governor 7 a switch 16 having one end engaged by a pair of collars l'Tc-onstituting part of the equip ment of governor 7 and its opposite end arranged to sweep over contacts 18, 18 and 18 connected respectively with the terminals of batteries 15, and 15 remote from the timer l4, the switch blade being con nected in the circuit wire 19 leading to the primary18 of coil 10. It is my preference that the switch 16 shall be moved with a snap action, only at critical times, and to this end I show conventional snap switch applied thereto, and which will, when so 1 moved spring the disk 20 and arm 16 forward with a snap action from one position to its posit on next 1n advance.

I- have found t at in such an installation assumin 7 -D the coil to be wound for operation upona predetermined voltage to be developed from the sourceof supply, and incapable of carrymg any substant al increase insuch voltage undernormal conditions, the increase in voltage ap -periods when the engine has speede'd u" -to'a high degree produces no ill effect in t e coil, whilekthe augmentation of the ignition current supply enablesproper sparking to be filaintainedat a speed higher than the critical or limitatiohal speed of the engine under the first or normal conditions.-

Having thus described my invention, what- 4 suitable circuit breaker therefor, a plurality.

of battery cells connected in series relation with each other, and means comprising a switch and a governor, responsive to thespeed of the engine for varying the number of cells in circuit to increase or'de'c r ease' the electro-motive-fqrce ofthe ig'nitioii current with the increase or d Q 1n speed of the engine. I

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine providing ignition d'evices,'au electric circuit, an electricvbattery comprising a series of cells adapted-for connecton in the circuit, andrmeans for varying the current consistent with variations in speed of the engine, comprising a snap switch and an engine controlled governor for operating said switch in either direction to, include a greater or lessnumber of cells. in circuit.

In testimony whereof .I hereunto'set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

, j CHARLES B. ASKEW,

In the presenceof- Fomin BAln, MARY F. ALLEN. 

